Finally decided on an invite design!

[sweetvenus]

After posting several polls on the topic, I ended up going in a completely different direction. I decided that I didn't want them to be printed completely flat, so I got a stamp, embossing powder, and ribbon, and this is what I came up with:

http://www.jessicaandben.com/blog/images/2008/04/img_0380-medium.jpg

Close-up of the embossing and ribbon:
http://www.jessicaandben.com/blog/images/2008/04/img_0379-medium.jpg

What do you all think?

[bichonlvr]

LOVE THEM!!!!!

You did an awesome job!

[WebLady]

LOVE THEM!!!!!

You did an awesome job!
I totally agree :D

[SunnyAB]

That's beautiful! I might have a little thinner ribbon to showcase the embossing more, but its gorgeous as it is! Clean, classy and elegant! Great job.

[MrsGrady08]

Those are Beautiful! You did a great job they look very professional.

[CelticAngel]

Awesome job, they look great.

[Kirby]

Wow, those are awesome!!

[firespirit]

Those look great !!!

[todaysdestinationwedding]

They look very professional...great job. Wow you could have another income there if you wanted to pursue it...;)

[sweetvenus]

Thanks so much!! I will definitely make sure to post some pictures when the whole package is completed. One of our groomsmen is an artist and is drawing the map for the map cards and I've got to finish the rsvp section of our website before I can print the rsvp cards.

[Danielle9608]

These really look professional! Great Job!

[Jacobs_Girl]

wow they look awesome!

[uptowngirl]

I love these!!! I was excited to see what you had come up with since I loved all the swirls you were playing with before! These are perfect!

[katrina7875]

Absolutely gorgeous! I'm a little jealous! LOL :bbredface:

[Kfancii]

Those are fabulous! Now you are making me want to try to emboss some for our "after wedding party" once we get back to Texas!

[TangoWedding]

love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love!!!!!!!!!

[sweetvenus]

Thanks everyone! They are super easy to make. I can give detailed instructions if anyone is interested.

[NowAShelton]

very nice!

[Kfancii]

Thanks everyone! They are super easy to make. I can give detailed instructions if anyone is interested.

I am!!! Even though I do lots of crafts, this one is all new to me! I just LOVE what you have done though!! They are fabulous!

[soon to be Mrs. Wilson]

they are beautiful!

[kimmykim1120]

I would love instructions.

[Demetrus's Bride]

Me too. Please! I would love instructions!

[sweetvenus]

Okay, I have pictures of the embossing process, and the rest of it is just attaching pieces together.

Supplies:
-Paper
-Stamp
-Stamp pad (pigment ink)
-Embossing powder (I used clear)
-Heat gun
-Stamp-a-majig (not necessary, but helpful)
-Tombow Mono Adhesive
-ribbon (I used 3/8" because the adhesive is 1/4")

The first thing I did was print the wording on the size cardstock that I needed. (I got all my cardstock from paperpresentation.com.) I just used Microsoft Word to do the printing.

Then I used my Stamp-a-majig to line up were the stamp would first go. This isn't really necessary, but it does help to see where you are first going to be stamping.

http://forums.onewed.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=2395&stc=1&d=1208913902

Then I placed the stamp where I had lined up the stamp-a-majig and made the first stamp.
http://forums.onewed.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=2396&stc=1&d=1208913968

I used the stamp twice more on the paper, just lining up the bottom of it with where I wanted it to meet with the top of the one I had previously done. This way it was quicker than using the stamp-a-majig over and over, and it wouldn't smear the stamp that had already been done.

After that, I poured on the embossing powder. You'll want to be really generous with it and make sure everything gets covered.
http://forums.onewed.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=2397&stc=1&d=1208914071

Then the extra embossing powder is just tapped off. You can also get this thing called an embossing buddy that you rub over the paper before you emboss to keep the powder from sticking to the paper and embossing stuff you don't need, but I didn't find it necessary with the cardstock I was using.
http://forums.onewed.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=2398&stc=1&d=1208914135

Continued next post...

[sweetvenus]

You don't have to heat them right away, so I just lined up a bunch of them with the embossing powder on.

http://forums.onewed.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=2399&stc=1&d=1208914285

Then apply heat with the heat gun (or get your FH to do it!)

http://forums.onewed.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=2400&stc=1&d=1208914327
http://forums.onewed.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=2402&stc=1&d=1208914509

After that, I used the Tombow Adhesive to put glue on the ribbon, and just stuck it to the cardstock and folded the excess over. Then the white cardstock was attached to red cardstock using the adhesive, and the red cardstock was attached to the pocketfold.

That's about it!

[Custom Wedding Stamps]

That's awesome that you did all that on your own. I love the example in your picture.

You should turn your instructions into an article complete with your photos of different steps. It would be great for a bridal magazine or bridal website.

[HeathsBride]

great job thanks for the step by step how to and the pics

[EightEightEight]

Those look absolutely fabulous. Great job.

[trinibride]

Great job venus!

Do you mind if I copy your design? Pllsssss?

[octoberbride]

WOW! Those are AMAZING! You did a wonderful job!

[mitch]

Very classy.

To buy something like that would cost a fortune. And to think with a bit of time and patience you have something truely unique.

Just think you could have a little cottage industry going on there. :winktongue:

[stressedoutbride]

they are absolutely beautiful and very elegant! if you dont mind me asking how much did you spend on everything? and did you use a special printer?

cookie

[sweetvenus]

they are absolutely beautiful and very elegant! if you dont mind me asking how much did you spend on everything? and did you use a special printer?

cookie

Thanks! I just used my Canon inkjet for the text, nothing special. The cost of all the materials (except for the heat gun and some other stuff that I already had) came to about $260 for 70 invitations.

[Aleta]

OMG! The invitations are beautiful! It's hard to believe it wasn't done professionally! I love that you have texture on the invitation! Any tips?

[Amanda&Jason]

Wow!!!! Those are really great!!!

[amyatom]

Love the embossing! I've been looking everywhere for a nice design for the inside of my card and I think following your instructions to follow through with my heart look is going to be fantastic! Thanks!!

[rainbowtreat]

I love thes invites. They do look like you ordered them. You did a very good job. You could go into business lol.

You kept one for yrouself right? You are going to want to show those off with all your pictures.

[dog mom]

The invitations look wonderful. You really did a great job.

[evilcookie]

Oooh...I love your invitations! What a beautiful job! Where did you find the envelopes? Are they pocket fold? I've been looking for ones like that...

[sweetvenus]

Thanks! Yes, they are pocketfolds. I got them from paperpresentation.com because that was the only place where I could find the black linen ones. I also got matching black linen envelopes to mail them in.

[MrsDM]

I absolutely love that stamp. Where did you get it from? I've been looking all over for one like that!!!

[sweetvenus]

I got it from Impress Rubber Stamps: www.impressrubberstamps.com :)

[neebelung]

After posting several polls on the topic, I ended up going in a completely different direction. I decided that I didn't want them to be printed completely flat, so I got a stamp, embossing powder, and ribbon, and this is what I came up with:

http://www.jessicaandben.com/blog/images/2008/04/img_0380-medium.jpg

Close-up of the embossing and ribbon:
http://www.jessicaandben.com/blog/images/2008/04/img_0379-medium.jpg

What do you all think?
Oh my Gosh!! Amazing!! Those are just gorgeous!

[MrsDM]

I got it from Impress Rubber Stamps: www.impressrubberstamps.com (http://www.impressrubberstamps.com) :)

Thanks! They have some great looking stamps, and cheap!!

[FutureMrsBurton]

Jessica,
So you stamped it and then sprinkled embossing power over the stamp while wet? Is that how it stands up or ??? Can you explain how you did that? or give me a site on how to educate myelf on how to emboss?
Thanks! These are very pretty!

[sweetvenus]

Jessica,
So you stamped it and then sprinkled embossing power over the stamp while wet? Is that how it stands up or ??? Can you explain how you did that? or give me a site on how to educate myelf on how to emboss?
Thanks! These are very pretty!

Yes, you sprinkle the powder on while the ink is wet so that it will stick to the ink, and then you heat it with a heat gun. That melts the powder, causing the raised texture. :)

[FutureMrsBurton]

This sounds like fun.......bet not after 100 of them :) I will have to go shopping and look into all of this :) I think it looks wonderful!

[FutureMrsBurton]

Oh my gosh.........just read how I am getting gabby! Is that a BAD thing?:bbeek: Am I posting too much?:huh: Guess I like it here :bbredface: